Meenakshi Rao, MD, PhD

Dr. Meenakshi Rao, MD, PhD, is a gastroenterologist in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Boston Children’s Hospital and an associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. She specializes in pediatric gastroenterology with expertise in inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, eosinophilic esophagitis, food allergy–related gastrointestinal disorders, feeding difficulties, and disorders of the enteric nervous system. Dr. Rao earned both her medical degree and PhD from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and completed her residency through the Boston Combined Residency Program, followed by fellowship training at Boston Children’s Hospital. In addition to her clinical work, she leads a nationally recognized research laboratory focused on enteric neurobiology and the gut nervous system, studying how neural circuits regulate digestive health and contribute to gastrointestinal disease. She is widely recognized for combining …translational research with compassionate, family-centered care for children with complex digestive disorders.